Hurricane Irene has tens of millions of people on the East Coast bracing for damage, but the origin of the name means quite the opposite of a monster storm.

The name "Irene" is Greek in origin and actually means "peace."

Several websites dedicated to explaining what names mean says Irene was the name of a Greek goddess who personified peace. Several early Christian saints have the name Irene.

The name was common in the Byzantine Empire; an eighth-century empress named Irene was the first to lead the Byzantine Empire. She originally was a regent for her ruling son, but killed him and led the empire alone.

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